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Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Fairmont Mayor & City Council Election 2026

2 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 12 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 5 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

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Election Day (Nov 3): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

Your houseWhat does your Fairmont house pay?A Fairmont house at the typical market value ($169,900) pays about $7,900 a year. Enter your address for your own number: property tax from the county's record, water, trash and energy, and the money dates ahead.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Voters citywide choose the mayor, and the voters of each ward choose that ward's councilmember; Wards 1 and 3 and the mayor are on the ballot.

Election Day · Nov 3

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

What the next council decides

01Local option sales tax money and a community center3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council has said it wants to spend most LOST funds on a large community building and some on lake projects, after the community center foundation dropped its project in 2025.

What's on the tableWhat facility to build with the sales tax money, where, who operates it, and how much goes to lakes.

02Charter amendments on the ballot3 sourced facts

Where it standsA proposed charter amendment is on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot by council resolution, and the council approved an amendment to the charter's form-of-government section.

What's on the tableThe council will work under whatever charter the voters leave in place, including how the form of government is described.

03City staff, spending and the mayor's authority2 sourced facts

Where it standsAt the Sept. 29 forum, mayoral candidates split over whether the city should consider cutting staff to reduce spending.

What's on the tableHow the council oversees the city administrator and city spending under the charter.

04Ice arena and the hockey agreement2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city, the fair board and the Fairmont Youth Hockey Association are bound by a 2004 Cooperative Agreement for the ice arena.

What's on the tableWhether and how the next council honors, changes or funds the arena agreement.

05Permitting and building in Fairmont1 sourced fact

Where it standsWard 1 candidates were asked about building and permitting in Fairmont at the Sept. 30 forum and answered differently.

What's on the tableWhat direction the council gives staff on permitting and building code, within the charter's limits on hiring and firing.

  • At the Sept. 30 forum, Tabitha Johnson favored reform of permitting and building code, and Bruce Eastlund said the building inspector protects the city. Fairmont Sentinel · Oct 2, 2026
2 notes on these statements

Mayor Lee Baarts did not file to run for re-election, so the mayor's seat is open. Fairmont Sentinel · Jul 29, 2026

Aaron Meier filed to run for mayor and withdrew before the end of the filing period. Fairmont Sentinel · Jul 29, 2026

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. How should the city use its local option sales tax money?

  2. 2. Should the city consider cutting staff to reduce spending?

  3. 3. What should voters do about the Charter Commission's proposed amendments?

  4. 4. What should the city do about its ice arena agreements?

  5. 5. How should the city approach permitting and building code?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted4 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.New · How Fairmont is runWho runs Fairmont, and what it costsThe city administrator earns $151,778. See council pay, whether the city is in the red, and where your property tax goes.Your houseA Fairmont house at the typical market value ($169,900) pays about $7,900 a yearProperty tax, water, trash and energy, line by line for your address, plus the savings most owners miss.

Key dates

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Wayne Hasek, Britney Kawecki, James Kotewa2 on this ballot

5 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

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